Got Plants? Reasons for a plant-based diet By Traci (Coffee.) Most people have at least one vegetarian or vegan friend, and it’s easy to wonder why they would pick a lifestyle that seems so difficult to manage without being able to eat meat, and for vegans, cheese and eggs! These are staple foods in most western lifestyles, and for most it would seem crazy to give them up. There are actually many reasons why people transition to vegetarianism, some that the average person isn’t aware of....

Complementary therapies By Jessie (Felorena.) Complementary therapies are a combination of conventional medicine therapies and philosophies (such as believing that illnesses develop when the person's body is out of balance and that a person's body, in the right conditions, can heal itself). While some people find going into counselling helps them with their mental health, other people find complementary therapies to be more beneficial. Complementary therapies are not just used by people who...

Coping with social anxiety at school By Gareth (Oracle.) Everyone feels nervous or self-conscious sometimes. Even the most confident of people can get the jitters just before a big occasion, such as an interview or giving a speech in front of a large group of people. This is perfectly normal and generally nothing to worry about, but when these feelings are very powerful and you just can’t seem to shake them, it can be a sign of a more serious issue. Social anxiety disorder, also known as...

Lucid dreaming By Maria (Gidig) Certainly you can remember a dream you’ve had at least once in all the years you’ve been sleeping. Perhaps it was something realistic, such as going swimming with a friend or doing your homework. Perhaps it was something crazy like buying a mansion in another dimension where Antarctica is the hottest place on Earth. Dreams are a natural part of sleeping and people over the age of ten have about four to six dreams per night. Lucid dreams are something...

Understanding non-binary gender By Hester (LiveLongAndProsper) There is more to gender than the two tick boxes on forms. Not everybody can tick ‘male’ or ‘female’. Binary means two, and non-binary gender means any gender identity that doesn't fall in either of the two binary categories. Instead of considering gender as binary, people are now beginning to consider it as a spectrum with people identifying somewhere between ‘male;’ and ‘female’. The problem with viewing gender as a position on...

Visual impairment: An interview By Christina (Kakorrhaphiophobia) and Robin (PSY) This month, the Articles Team decided to do something different. Instead of presenting a typical article, we wanted to give the TeenHelp community a unique perspective on what it's like to be visually impaired. Christina has been serving as a Staff member for quite some time, and you may have noticed her work as the Disabilities Forum Moderator... but did you know that she can't actually "see" what she's doing...

Surviving the suicide of a loved one By Kathy (drowningangel) Regardless of the cause, death is incredibly hard to cope with, and when someone close commits suicide, it may leave you feeling especially lost and alone. Suicide is the third highest cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 24 in the world. When this tragedy strikes, family and friends go through many changes that can be overwhelming, and while no one can go through the grief process for them, understanding emotions...

Coping with overbearing parents By Sammi (Jellybean.) As we go through our teenage years, our parents or guardians have a tendency to try to hold onto our childhood. For some, that means doing activities together to try and keep the close relationship they had when their child was growing up. For others, it could mean parents continuing to try to control their kids' lives and insert their opinions when they are not wanted. Some parents, however, take things to extreme levels. They can...

The advantages and disadvantages of labelling your sexual orientation and/or gender identity By Chess (Celestial.) In terms of the LGBT community, a label can be understood as a specific title which describes a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Many of these may be familiar, such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender, but others, such as homoflexible, heteroromantic, or trigender, may come as more of a surprise. No matter what a person’s sexual orientation or gender...

My life with Asperger's syndrome By Lydia (Penultimate) Asperger's syndrome is a mental illness that affects several areas of a child's normal development. This disorder is largely misunderstood and is often compared to Autism, a more well-known mental illness that also involves developmental issues. While the two are very similar, it's important to distinguish between the two, as children with Asperger's syndrome do not have language impairments like children with Autism do, which enables...

Abusive Relationships By Ashley (Wonderbread) Abusive relationships are something that can affect us whether we are sixteen or sixty. It is important to remember that while abuse can be physical, it can also be mental, emotional, or sexual. Abuse affects both men and women, but no one has to remain in an abusive relationship. Being aware of the signs of an abusive relationship can help you to know when enough is enough, and to leave or ask for help. Definitions of the different types...

Talking to your parents about sex By Traci (Coffee.) Growing up, many people had “the talk” about sex with their parents. Although often awkward, these moments created a mutual closeness where parents and kids got to speak about adult choices and felt comfortable continuing a lifelong discussion. However, for some, these discussions were uncomfortable and uninformative with the subject never being brought up again. But no matter what, the time has come; you're in puberty, you have...

The English Baccalaureate, explained By Jack (Coenred) It’s been two years since the fiasco of the British general election, which ended with Cameron and Clegg promising change and reform to wherever they thought it was needed. Following the non-record breaking exam results of 2012, they turned their collective gaze to the education system. They announced that they would find a way to turn it into a more fair and well-rounded system. However, what are the changes they’re making?...

Elder abuse By Robin (PSY) Many of us are fortunate to have grandparents or other beloved elderly adults in our lives. Some of these individuals may need more assistance from family members and caregivers than others, but regardless of how dependent elders may be on other people, all of them are vulnerable to abuse of various forms. Unfortunately, you may have seen this in your own life. Perhaps you’ve noticed suspicious bruises, which were dismissed as the result of a “fall.” Maybe...

Learning from the Paralympics By Hester (LiveLongAndProsper) Some people will know that the Paralympics took place this year (2012) in Great Britain. A huge number of countries and talented athletes took part. Records were broken, gold medals were won, and every country that took part was made proud. However, the Paralympics is more than just a sporting event to be watched and then forgotten. First, there are the obvious lessons to be learnt. Anybody can take part in a sport. You can be...